"Amphitrite, wait! We don't have a plan or know how to get Sara back!" Chibiusa hollered franticly ahead to her companion. However, her friend didn't appear to hear her desperate cries as she only swam faster. Therefore, Chibiusa shouted at her again, and this time the merprincess stopped.
"I can only hope, without Sara, we can vanquish the Leviathan," Amphitrite shouted back before speeding off.
"Like my pearl, we are not as influential without Sara." Seira whimpered pitifully. Lucy and Hannah quickly embraced Seira comfortingly. "Shouldn't Chibiusa, her sister, and both their teams be more then enough?" questioned Karen.
"While they can most certainly benefit us with the impending battle? They don't have the same capacity our pearls have. No offense meant to you girls." Amphitrite replied apologetically.
"None taken." Ariel shrugged it off. She'd instead concentrate on their mission and not meaningless things right now.
"We'll do what we can," Trisha vowed solemnly as they picked up the pace.
"If we can ease Sara's anxious mind? Perhaps, she may have the courage to rejoin us." Lina thought aloud, to which everyone gave her an odd glance.
"Except Sara is solely concerned for our safety. Can we say we're safe with that thing on the loose?!" Gracie squeaked as she nervously trembled.
"Safe or not, we're all Senshi! Love and justice are just as important as our friendships." Lucy's formerly somber expression brightened into a smile. After all, it was her job to be the one who sees good in everything.
"Believing in each other will be your greatest weapon in this battle. It would be best if you got Sara to believe in herself. She only knows how to sacrifice herself for what she thinks is right.
That is all she has ever done. However, it's hurting her soul to fight back. That poor girl's spirit has been lost for so long." Naia revealed Sara is more troubled than anyone previously thought.
"I hope Mom, Dad, and the sentries can hold them off until we get there." Sailor Amphitrite turned her attention back to dashing home. Everyone else followed in hot pursuit, praying they weren't too late.
At the underwater palace, Sara watched, tears in her eyes, as the Leviathan used her pearl to attack and severely injure the guards! Sara did wish they would stand aside. Yet, her pearl was not doing just her will anymore as she had willingly given it to the Leviathan!
Sara hid her face behind her hair to cover up her tears and tried to coke back her sobs; openly bawling would not help matters now. Finally, however, the Leviathan noticed his bride-to-be's body shaking and knew she was devastated.
"Sara, if you are unhappy, I can just go back and take Orca." The Leviathan sneered menacingly at the crying mergirl.
"No! I will take my Princess's place to protect her and my friends freedom. I need to get used to this…." Sara did her best not to look at the battered guards as the two made their way through the palace and broke into the Throne Room.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Queen Oki glared disapprovingly at the former Aqua Senshi.
"A thousand and one apologies, my queen. You see, I have given my hand in marriage to the Leviathan in Orca's place." Sara saw her queen's gaze soften into horror and sorrow for Sara's situation.
"Sara…Though we are very pleased with you protecting Orca and our other allies, you don't have to do this." King Delphin said gently, trying to comfort the distraught princess.
"If I don't, I can't call myself an acceptable Aqua Senshi! The Leviathan will kill everyone if I won't…." Sara wailed, devastated.
"Cease in pestering my bride-to-be!" The Leviathan snarled at the royal couple. "I have disposed of your guards with Sara's pearl's raw power. So, I suggest you give up your thrones to Sara and me as I don't want to kill you two either."
"We would rather die defending our thrones than give in to you!" So King Delphin drew his sword.
At this point, it would take the Senshi too long to catch up, so, thinking fast, Crystal came up with a plan, "Chibiusa, Amphitrite, I don't know if we can do this, but we need to try Sailor Teleport. Then, we can go in groups but at the same time."
"It's worth a shot," Amphitrite said slowly and looked at her Aqua Senshi as they had never attempted Sailor Teleport before. Chibiusa and her Neo-Sailor Senshi transformed and took one Aqua Senshi each by the hand. Mainly the one who they corresponded with. Plus, one of Jewel's teammates if preferred.
Holding tightly onto each other, they chorused, "Sailor Teleport!" Glowing their respective colors for a minute, a whirlpool enveloped them, and they traveled at hypersonic speed to the coral reef palace! Thankfully, Naia had joined them, and they arrived between the Leviathan and King Delphin! All teams faced the Leviathan!
"Holy Stone Sword!" Neo-Sailor Venus drew her sword to aid King Delphin.
"Aqua Harp!" Neo-Sailor Mercury uses her version of Aqua Rhapsody.
"Flame Bow and Arrow!" Neo-Sailor Mars expected her initial attack to look as it usually did, but only a slightly glowing red aura proved the bow and arrow were there!
Underwater, the Neo-Sailor Senshi's attacks might look a bit different! "Oak Leaf Wave!" Neo-Sailor Jupiter did not want to use her electricity for fear of electrocuting them all.
Neo-Sailor Uranus, Neo-Sailor Neptune, Neo-Sailor Saturn, and Neo-Sailor Pluto attacked with Blade Bazooka, Tsunami Rush, Silence Glaive Sneak Surprise, and Dead Whisper. These were their versions of Space Sword Blaster, Deep Sea Submerge, Silence Glaive Surprise, and Dead Scream!
Sailor Nova created a protective barrier around them as the Dark Kingdom Senshi gave their attacks a try. Sailor Earth created illusions of her and her teammates/friends to confuse the Leviathan. Sailor Sun summoned ice to coat parts of the Leviathan's body, and Sailor Eclipse used energy blasts!
"Rainbow Double Moon Heartache!" Neo-Sailor Moon and Sailor Universe, who had been practicing, fired a sizeable pink ball of moonlight and glass shard-shaped energy along with ribbons and hearts!
This onslaught of destructive capability significantly weakened the Leviathan, but he was not giving up as he haphazardly swung his tail end around, hoping to knock some of them unconscious! Then, Sailor Amphitrite and her Aqua Senshi got ready to use their pearls. Opening their golden seashell lockets, the pearls glowed their respective colors and a Seven Seas Attack, similar to Sailor Planet Attack, hit the Leviathan!
However, as aforementioned, the attack was not powerful enough without Sara, and she was screaming for the girls to stop attacking as she feared for their well-being. As Sara sobbed, a gentle hand lay on her shoulder. The mermaid looked up to see Naia!
"I need to tell you something." She changed the scene around them using a similar power back in her cave. No coral reef place, battle, Leviathan, Oki, Delphin, Orca! Just clear, clean, open water as far as the eye could see.
"WHEN are we?" Sara knew Naia was showing her something, which had happened in the past, but it was clear even before Oki's time. "Sara, when I was much younger, I had a daughter named Lani….You remind me of her; she was kind, insightful, protective, and logical. Everyone who knew her loved her…I should have loved her as much." Tears filled Naia's eyes.
Sara watched as a tiny mermaid, who resembled her in specific ways, swam up to her mother, Naia. This must be Lani. She and Naia hugged, kissed her head, and seemed to love each other very much.
"Mommy, may I please go play with the others over the dunes?" Lani begged.
"Lani, you are too young to go where I can't see you." Naia recited what she had already said many times. Over the years, Lani kept pleading with her mother to let her go exploring, but Naia refused. Being virtually a prisoner in her own home, the young mermaid grew resentful of Naia.
Slowly she started openly disobeying her. Which only got worse as she got older! Until, one day, she came home severely injured! Naia was worried and angry, "Lani, where were you?! You're lucky you aren't dead!"
"Wow, Mom…Thanks for the yelling and scolding. It really helps!" Lani tried to brush past her mom, but Naia would not drop this!
"If this situation doesn't get through to you, nothing will! But, if you just listened and were smart about picking your fights-" Naia began, but Lani did not have it!
"Sorry I'm not as perfect as you, Mom! But listening to you was my first mistake!" Lani yelled and slammed her bedroom door shut.
Later, Naia was concerned she had not heard from her daughter in hours. So, she went to check on her except the door was locked. This forced Naia to spy from a window, but Lani was not in her room!
Shocked, Naia began to scour the waters for her daughter when she heard two people arguing a little ways off. Naia did need to know if anyone saw Lani, so she might as well ask. Naia found Lani fighting a Leviathan on the spot, though not the same!
"LANI!" Naia screamed in horror and concern.
"Mom…?" Lani turned her head to look.
Not knowing you should never turn your back on your enemy, Lani started to turn back to face this Leviathan, but it hit her with its tail, and there was a loud crack sound from Lani's neck!
Lani sank to the seafloor and lay there, motionless. Naia rushed to scoop up the most precious thing in the world to her, but the Leviathan was faster and picked Lani up by her tail.
"LANI, NO!" Naia bellowed. She had to cover her eyes as the Leviathan dropped her daughter into his maw! Sadly, Naia could not block out the sound of the Leviathan crunching Lani's bones! When she looked again, the Leviathan was rubbing a lump in his belly, no doubt Lani's broken body, not yet digested! With tears cascading down her face, Naia fled, and the scene faded back into the chaos at hand.
"I…I don't understand." Sara wondered what she was supposed to learn from this.
"As a mother, I tried to protect my daughter, Sara. What I should have been doing was to be fairer and support her bravery. Instead, you are protective of Orca, making you a good Aqua Senshi. Sara, but you must learn to let her and the others fight back. It's OK to be afraid, but don't be afraid to fight." Naia explained, smiling sweetly.
Sara looked about as she let the information sink in, and something caught her eye on the floor: Her pearl! Diving for it, Sara scooped it up and transformed it into her Senshi form, which caught everyone's attention!
"Sara, you know what I'll have to do if you-" The Leviathan began, but Sara was not hearing it. "Can it!" Now Sailor Gulf snapped. "Amphitrite, I'm sorry, but I'm ready now."
"Glad to have you back, Gulf. We could use your strength." Amphitrite winced, and her Senshi's Seven Seas Attack was wearing out.
"My strength…" While Sailor Gulf did not believe she was strong. However, she was one of the stronger Aqua Senshi!
Sailor Gulf added her pearl's strong power to the Seven Seas Attack! Still, the Levithan would not stop! Finally, fed up with him, Sailor Gulf unsheathed her spear and jumped up to run along the Leviathan's body and slice off his head! Finally, the Leviathan collapsed and slowly faded into sea foam!
"Gulf…" Sailor Indian whimpered, a little unnerved by Sailor Gulf's action.
When Sailor Gulf saw Sailor Indian's wide and scared eyes, she mellowed out, "I'm sorry, Indian. I'm OK. It's over now."
Sailor Indian dashed to hug Sailor Gulf as everyone de-transformed. Then, King Delphin, Queen Oki, and the former Aqua Senshi rushed to ensure their daughters were safe and sound. Even servants rushed in to check on Chibiusa, Jewel, and their Senshi. Soon, as everyone calmed down completely, Naia started to sing a song to help and explain herself as she knew the girls would have questions for her.
"Fate has been cruel and order unkind
How could I have let you go?
The blame is my own. The consequences you paid
My heart breaks today
But into the stillness, I'll bring you a song
And I will keep your spirit company
Till your tired eyes and my prayers
Have carried you softly to sleep…
Once did a mermaid, who shone like the sun-lit waves
Look out over he people and sigh
She smiled and "Surely. There is no mermaid
So loving and so wise as I."
So great was her heart and so brilliant her wisdom
That long was the shadow she cast
Which fell dark upon the young daughter she loved
And grew only darker as days and nights passed
Lunar mermaid princess, goodnight daughter of mine
And rest in the moonlight's embrace
Bear my lullaby, currents of the sea
Through the cloud, through the sky, and in space
Carry the peace and the coolness of the sea
And carry my sorrow in kind
Lani, you're loved so much more than you know
Forgive me for being so blind
Soon did that mermaid take notice that she
She did not give her daughter a chance
And neither was she fair as she deserved
She watched as her daughter's unhappiness grew
But such is the way of a mother, the title sweetly
It takes hold of the mind of its host
And that foolish mermaid did nothing to stop
The destruction of one who had needed her most
Lunar mermaid princess, goodnight daughter of mine
And rest in the moonlight's embrace
Bear my lullaby, currents of the sea
Through the cloud, through the sky, and in space
Carry the peace and the coolness of the sea
And carry my sorrow in kind
Lani, you're loved so much more than you know
May troubles be far from your mind
And forgive me for being so blind
The years now before me
Fearful and unknown
I never imagined
I'd face them on my own
May this sorrowful life
Swiftly pass, I pray
I love you; I miss you
All these miles away
May all your dreams be sweet tonight
Safe upon your bed of waves
And know not of sadness, pain, nor gloom
And when I dream, I'll float away and meet you there
Sleep…sleep…sleep…
Our eternal love overflows as our smiling subjects carry us through our deep-sea realm."
The End